A Day of Thanks

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, a specific day of giving love and thanks. I try to be thankful and grateful every day, finding even one little thing to be appreciative to have in my life. Aside from being grateful for being healthy, having found the love of my life over 10 years ago, and all the people I know who make up my friends and family, TODAY is my day of saying THANKS to you the reader!

May 2015 was the month I published my first book. Several took their chance on a new indie author and made my release thrilling beyond belief. There was little I knew about publishing a book, and because of many of you, I’ve grown in so many ways with my storytelling overall (including editing and formatting).

Since then, the ride hasn’t stopped as I’ve learned so much more about being an author, the publishing industry, and the book community. The book sales and reviews are AMAZING, don’t get me wrong, and of course, I’d love for those numbers to explode well beyond that of what they already are. However, the most AMAZING thing to come out of all of this experience for me is the many new people I’ve met (in person and online), the friendships that have fostered around reading great stories, including books that aren’t my own.

Though I’m an author, sometimes putting my own personal thoughts and feelings into words is not always easy. Sometimes finding the right word or phrase escapes me but is better spoken through each of my characters. Many of these characters I have written, or will soon write, will reflect my utmost gratitude, appreciation, and love for the friends I’ve made during this journey. It might be their name, something that they do, or perhaps even something they’ve said or done that I’ve connected with in some way that will be shared within my stories. You, the reader, are part of my inspiration to writing real people even in a world of fiction.

Though I can’t thank everyone individual (because I’m sure I’d unintentionally leave someone out), I would like to say a personal THANK YOU to the following people who have played a very special role in my life as an author, in no particular order: my husband, Frank & Phyllis, Lucine & Brian, Nicole Strycharz, Danielle Urban, Laurie Breitsprecher, Diana Esqueda, Cassandra Carpio, Elisa Marie Hopkins, Letha Hanover, T. R. Cupak, Latisha Johnston, Mandy Saial, Sandra Ferrufino, Jo Cooper, Rachael Organ, Martha Boss, Ace Gray, Mandy Dawn, Melly Sutjitro, Giovanna Cruz, Jessi Elliot C.J. English, and so many more. Even if your name did not appear, it does not mean I’m any less thankful for you in my life. These people have stood out in my heart and mind in one form or another to be specifically mentioned. Again, THANK YOU all, from the bottom of my soul. ~Martha